03/03/2015VATICANPope: "a thousand times Jesus preferred sinners" to hypocrites"In the second week of Lent we have these three words to think about, to ponder: the invitation to conversion; the gift that the Lord will give us, which is great forgiveness, a great forgiveness; and the trap, that is, pretending to convert, while choosing the path of hypocrisy. "Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "A thousand times Jesus preferred
sinners" to hypocrites, those who "pretend to be converted", but
"whose heart belongs to Satan," and if you "learn to do...

03/03/2015ISRAEL - UNIETD STATES - IRAN Netanyahu worried more about elections back home that about Iran's nuclear programmeby Joshua LapideThe Israeli prime minister wants to stop the "bad deal" with Iran that could "threaten the survival of Israel." Obama retorts that Netanyahu's dark predictions never came true. At home, some believe Netanyahu sought this visit to boost his chances at re-election. For ordinary Israelis, there is too much talk about Iran and nothing about domestic issues and peace with the Palestinians.

03/03/2015INDIAIn India, the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master beat indifference through worshipby Nirmala CarvalhoThe congregation has many chapels across the country, all open to Hindus, Muslims and Christians. During her fraternal visit, the Pauline superior general found a growing and developing nation. It is important not to lose from sight that 'Atithi Devo Bhav', the guest is God. We should regain the ability to share not only material goods, but also time and space.

03/03/2015CAMBODIA - VIETNAMCambodia deports 36 Vietnamese Montagnards, fleeing persecutionThe group was stopped in a forested area north-east of the capital. A Cambodian, an ethnic Charai who led the group, was also arrested. Vietnamese and Cambodian police were involved in the joint operation that led to repatriation of the refugees.

03/03/2015NEPALHindu fundamentalists threatened peace and stability in Nepalby Christopher SharmaDeputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam presents a security report to parliament. The authorities have stepped up surveillance of radical and monarchist groups. Some leftwing and separatist groups are also a danger.

03/03/2015EGYPT - ISLAMBombs, elections, and convictions on Egypt's pathby André AzzamA bomb attack yesterday in Cairo killed two people and wounded nine. Two more people died two days ago in Aswan. Many praise al-Sisi's iron fist; others criticise him for being illiberal. The elections planned for March and May were postponed after the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the existing election law. Some Islamists get the death penalty and a number of Arab spring protesters get heavy prison sentences. The president of the Federation of Protestant Churches believes in a better future for Egypt.

03/03/2015CHINAChina sets its sights on economies of Central AsiaBeijing is investing in the manufacturing sector in Kazakhstan. Tajikistan receives $ 200 million from Beijing to for lead extraction. China’s goal is to limit Russian influence in Central Asia. Experts say China wants to infiltrate the vast market of the Eurasian Economic Union and contain the threat of terrorism in Xinjiang.

03/03/2015TAIWANTaiwan, conversion becomes mission even in the mediaby Xin YageDean Ferng received baptism last Christmas, after drawing near to the Catholic faith by the witness of Christians he met in his life: "They have a goal, a vision, they know where they want to go." He is now working to introduce the Pope more thanks to two documentaries, which will be aired on national television.

03/03/2015NORTH KOREA - CANADANorth Korea, Protestant pastor "missing" for over a monthThe Rev. Lim Hyeon-soo, from the Light Korean Presbyterian Church of Toronto, was in the Asian country for a humanitarian visit. He was due to return February 4, but there has been no news of him since January 31. The religious leader has made more than 100 trips to the land of the Kim-regime.

03/02/2015PAKISTANLahore: 'charity travels' for a Lent of prayer and sharingby Kamran ChaudhryEach year, the archdiocese offers its members a number of day-trips to some of the country's places of suffering (and hope): homes for the mentally disabled, orphanages, centres for troubled children, as well as Mariamabad, one of the most beloved Marian shrine in the whole of South Asia. At the Dar ul-Karishma Centre, the Sisters of Charity welcome people with psychiatric problems.

03/02/2015BANGLADESHBangladesh holds man over blogger Avijit Roy's murderby Sumon CorrayaThe suspect had been arrested previously for inciting attacks against writers and intellectuals. The murder victim, a US citizen of Bangladeshi origin, was hacked to death with a machete. Islamist extremists threatened publicly to kill him last year after the publication of his book 'Biswasher Virus,' Bengali for 'Virus of faith'.

03/02/2015INDIAIndia's 2015-2016 budget calls for growth, but on the back of childrenby Nirmala CarvalhoLenin Raghuvanshi, director of the People's Vigilance Committee for Human Rights (PVCHR), slams the Finance minister's financial bill. Large infrastructure and energy investments come with heavy cuts in educational and development programmes for the country's children.

03/02/2015VATICANPope: Judging ourselves to obtain and offer mercyAt Mass in Casa Santa Marta, Pope Francis emphasizes that judging ourselves is the first step of Christian wisdom. Recognizing the envy that leads us to "speak ill of others", that we are capable of doing worse things than which we judge others for. "Who am I to judge?" obeys the exhortation of Jesus: Judge not lest you be judged.

EGYPT - ISLAMWhat Tayeb and Sisi said is big step towards a revolution in Islamby Samir Khalil SamirThe grand imam of Al-Azhar slammed literalist interpretations of the Qur'an and the Sunnah, as fundamentalists and Islamic terrorists do. He supports the urgent need for Islam's reform, especially in terms of teaching lay people and clerics. He also calls for an end to mutual excommunication (takfir) between Sunnis and Shias. Egyptian President al-Sisi chose to fight the Islamic state group after it beheaded 21 Coptic Christians, whom he called "Egyptian citizens" with full rights.

SAUDI ARABIA - ISLAMFor head of Al-Azhar, religious education reform is needed to stop Islamic extremismFor Ahmed al-Tayeb, it is urgent to come up with new educational programmes to avoid "corrupt interpretations" of the Qur'an and Sunnah. Islamic terrorism undermines the unity of the Muslim world. He blames Mideast tensions on a "new global colonialism allied to world Zionism". a speech by the Saudi king is read at the conference.